VF / VLBY / VLBF - Bogie Louvre

VF

To provide for more rolling stock on the
standard gauge and faster train running, many wagons were upgraded
with better bogies.

The VF class had origins in the

_V__ class of 1925. VF's began appearing 1961, with most of the fleet being converted. The VF number group was 1 - 81, V82 being scrapped in 1960.

As there was some confusion with vehicles
being suitable for operation between broad and standard gauge the
letter 'X' was introduced from 1963. The letter 'X' vehicles required
Grade Control and uniform brake rigging attachments, bogie fittings
and a suitable class and number information plate.

Conversion was started in 1967 for converting the VF class to VX but was halted due to the expense of conversion. The only vehicle in the process of conversion was VF 29 and
this was returned to traffic as a VF after the Grade Control equipment was removed. It came out of the workshops
retaining the large class and number board, the only VF so fitted ( CME memo 20/12/1967 ).

Traffic was very general, with a few
being allotted to 'Paper' trains.

In the 1979 recoding , the few remaining
vans were recoded to VLBY.

VLBY

The numbers recorded by the author as
being VLBY were: 2, 17, 44, 54, 65, 66, 69, 72 and 81.

In 1983 with changes to passenger train
running and set makeup, some of the VLPY
bogie passenger vans were down rated and placed into freight service.
Bogies from these vehicles were placed under steel box vans in
freight service to become _D__ vans.

The VLBY ex VLPY vans were numbered in
the group 100 - 149.

About 1988, the letter 'Y' as last letter
in the code was found to be an incorrect application. The letter 'Y'
was altered to letter 'F'. This changed the class to
VLBF.

VLBF

By 1991 most of these wagons were out of
service and stored. During the early to mid 1990's these wagons were
scrapped or sold as bodies. Some can be found in the Bendigo area on farms.

Types

There were three types:

The original 1925 vans, Nos. 1,2.
These had single door per side with sheet roof.

The first batch built by VR.
Identical to type 1, except a corrugated roof was
used.

The third batch were were built with
two doors per side. The doors were placed near each end. These
were also similar to the VLPY type.